The Bill seeks to ‘Monday-ise’ Waitangi Day and ANZAC Day when they fall on a weekend.

ANZAC Day and Waitangi Day are of great importance.  It is important that we continue to commemorate the days on the 6th of February and 25th of April. The Bill will not change that, but it will restore to Kiwis the holidays they deserve.

I’ve blogged more fully about the Bill at Red Alert.

Update 13 February: The DominionPost editor has taken a firm line in support of my Member’s Bill. A snippet:

“The legislation that sets out public holidays in New Zealand has undergone considerable changes in the past 10 years but, for some unfathomable reason, no government has ever had the gumption to “Mondayise” Waitangi Day and Anzac Day. The glaring anomaly means at least one of the holidays is lost every seven years, when they fall on a weekend. In 2010 and 2011, both were lost, in the latter case because of the rare circumstance of Anzac Day falling on Easter Monday.”  Read the full editorial here.

I have benefited from plenty of Southern sunshine and a decent summer break.  And now things are up and running again.  My calendar is being booked up for the months ahead, and I’m turning my mind to my maiden speech in Parliament.

I will be active on my facebook page during 2012. I’ll be less active on this blog. Much of the early part of this year will be focused on getting up to speed on the parliamentary environment, and with my portfolios.  But I’ll be on Red Alert more often than in the past.

Oh, and I’ve moved into the offices on Albany Street – previously occupied by Pete Hodgson. We’re open to the public office hours. Call by.

First, I’ve been elected to Parliament as your new MP for Dunedin North.  Thank you to all of you who have supported me, whether practically through campaigning activities, or through kind words, or simply by voting.  I appreciate your support. And will do my level best to be worthy of the faith you’ve placed in me.

Second, Labour’s chosen a new leadership team.  David Shearer, former New Zealander of the year, and MBE recipient, is our new leader.  Wry critics have suggested his leadership in UN reconstruction work will fit him well for the task ahead.  Grant Robertson, Dunedin born and bred - and a longstanding friend - is his deputy. I am looking forward to supporting these two as they lead Labour’s bid for Government in 2014.

Third, more change has been signalled.  The Labour Party is going to undertake a constitutional review to ensure it’s structures and processes serve the best interests of the Party and of the New Zealanders it represents.

Change can be unsettling.  It is often risky.  I’m looking forward to it.

The last Labour Government lifted 130,000 kiwi-kids out of poverty through Working For Families.  But there is still much more to do.  I’ve previously written about child poverty and its effects.

The early years are most important to a child’s development.  It is worth investing more at the start.

We’re going to make some positive changes. Making sure parents earn a living wage means the bills can get paid, the family fed and the house properly heated.  Free 24/7 access to health-care for under 6s is vital. And access to 20 hours free – quality early childhood education means that all children can get the best possible start.

Labour’s plan for child well-being is found on the ownourfuture website.  Detailed policy is linked at the bottom of that page.

I’m very proud of the changes Labour will make if elected to government.

I’ve made clear from the start why I’m standing for election.  I’m deeply concerned about the growing gap between rich and poor.

Labour’s plan to make the first $5000 of income tax-free will mean mum and dad with a couple of kids will have at least $1000 more in the family budget each year.  It will be particularly good for students working part time to support themselves through university.  Labour is also promising to increase the minimum wage to $15/hr to make sure families can afford to feed their kids and heat their homes. Poverty costs us all in the long term. Every child deserves a decent start in life.  One way of supporting kids is through a living wage.

Labour’s opposition to asset sales has been well received.  The cost of living has risen astronomically in the last few years.  People struggling to pay for food and pay the electricity bills don’t have much left over at the end of the week.  And they certainly don’t have the money to buy back assets they already own.

Today I was out with the Dunedin North Labour team in Pine Hill.  It rained but our spirits were not dampened.  We’ll be out and about this week spreading the Labour message in a suburb near you.  Please come out and say hello, and join in a discussion about how we can own our future.

Yes Phil is popular down here, but good Government requires more than just a popular leader.

Here’s three reasons I’m feeling very positive about our local campaign:

1/ I find our policies easy to represent to people in Dunedin.  Labour is running with strong policies that line up well with the reasons I have chosen to run for parliament.  They align with my fundamental belief in the importance of creating a fairer society.  I am horrified by National’s priorities.  42% of the value of their 2009 tax-cuts went to the top 10% of income earners.  Just 2% of the value went to the bottom 20% of earners.  That is not fair.  The gap between rich and poor is too large.

2/ The policies Phil has announced show that Labour is prepared to tackle the big issues. Raising the superannuation age tackles the elephant in the room.  A capital gains tax stops tax-dodging and pushes money towards productive industries. (It also addresses our debt issue without having to sell our assets).  And making kids’ well-being a priority will ensure a better society and economy so that all of us are better off.

3/ Last but not least: local volunteer effort is impressive. The Dunedin North Labour campaign runs on local fundraising. Volunteers knock on doors and distribute pamphlets. They arrange meetings. Volunteers put up and maintain the hoardings we have up around town. Caring and thoughtful local members are dedicated to playing their part in creating a better future for our country. These are just some of the ways they work hard to make it happen.

Traditional voting patterns in Dunedin are strongly Labour. This is something I would never take for granted.  Yet the values and ideals of Dunedin residents remain strongly egalitarian.  That in itself is cause for a positive outlook.

DOC currently manages about a third of New Zealand’s land mass with a budget roughly the same size as that of the Hamilton City Council. They contribute to our clean, green brand - but are very thinly stretched.

So what would Labour do differently?  Well, our conservation policy has been announced.  In short: we’re going to invest more in the Department of Conservation as well as in the volunteer communities that support our conservation efforts.

Besides investing in people, significant projects are proposed:

- Labour aims to have 30 per cent of our marine area in some form of protection by 2020 – both in the territorial sea (out to 12 nautical miles) and the exclusive economic zone or EEZ (a further 200 nautical miles).

- The NZ biodiversity strategy will be properly reviewed, and findings implemented.

- The water conservation orders, recently undermined by National, will be built up again.

- Labour will strengthen the National Policy Statement for Renewable Electricity Generation 2011.

- And with Labour there will be no mining of national parks. Labour has always opposed mining on Schedule 4 land.  Its status will be simplified and strengthened, providing certainty for all interests.

Our environment is critical to our identity as New Zealanders.  And beyond that, Labour appreciates the economic value of our clean, green brand.  Clever policies which enhance our conservation estate are good for our own enjoyment and our future prosperity.  Labour will do plenty more.  Details will be on Labour’s policy page soon.  In the meantime, some bullet points from the press release below:

-Continue to encourage private sector investment in conservation projects;
-Resource weed and integrated pest control on public conservation land to protect threatened species, ecosystems and significant landscapes;
-Promote predator-free island sanctuaries, and be vigilant in protecting them;
-Continue to make additions to land held for public conservation through dedicated funds (e.g. the Nature Heritage Fund);
-Begin a systematic classification of stewardship land;
-Formally investigate adding the Mokihinui river area to Kahurangi National Park;
-Pursue iwi, local government, community and corporate partnerships for conservation projects, reviewing DOC’s role in the Treaty settlement process;
-Encourage private landowners to protect conservation values on their land;
-Reinstate the Enviro-Schools programme;
-Target school-leavers who are contemplating working in the conservation sector;
-Develop new camping grounds as opportunities arise;
-Implement a phase-out of unsustainable fishing methods;
-Prohibit shark finning;
-Recommit to the Antarctic Treaty system, and act as an international advocate for the protection of the Antarctic ecosystem from mineral or other inappropriate exploitation.

I’ve blogged about Occupy before.  It is drawing attention to the growing gap between rich and poor.

Many of those involved in Occupy Dunedin come and go.  They’ve got jobs to hold down during the day (or shift work at night) and they show up in the Octagon as time allows.  While the group covers a broad cross-section of society, they share a common concern that things are not as they should be.

And things are not as they should be.  Under the National Government, costs have risen faster than wages.  Increasing numbers of families in Dunedin are struggling to make ends meet.

Things are getting worse. I’ve knocked on doors during the year and heard stories of people working long hours but not able to afford to take a sick child to the doctor.  Sometimes people are caught out by one power bill, ending up in a debt cycle; many families can’t afford to buy the fresh fruit and vegetables they once could. Last week, Presbyterian Support published it’s Voices of Poverty report. It too shows the growing need in our community.

In the year to June 2011, Presbyterian Support Otago’s Family Works service provided budgeting, income-related advice and tangible support to 2921 families and individuals.  Total interventions for emergency assistance, budgeting, community welfare and counselling was 8253, compared with 5860 in 2009-10 and 5150 in 2008-09.  These figures represent a 60% increase in demand over three years.

The full report contains the personal stories of families in Otago living with poverty.  It is a sobering read.

There is no doubt that many are struggling to put food on the table.  But even middle income earners are feeling the squeeze – and perhaps this is why the Occupy movement resonates more widely.  Certainly, Labour’s plan to address cost of living issues is receiving a warm response.

The occupiers were yesterday served trespass notices, effective from 8pm.  It is not clear what the next few days will bring for them.  Whatever it brings, I am grateful that they have provoked a debate about the gap between rich and poor.  Their campsite in the Octagon has given many struggling Dunedin residents occasion to share their growing concerns.

The documentary style is a bit experimental.  It’s certainly got tongues wagging.

Watching it makes me feel proud. From the feedback I’ve received around the traps, I’m not alone in that.

Curious?  Or want to view it again. Click this link. It’s well worth a look.